A disease commonly known as bluetongue has hit the deer herd in Wayne, Union, Fayette and Franklin counties this year. As a result, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has reduced the bonus antlerless quota in these four counties from 2 to 1 per licensed hunter this season.
Also known as epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), it is a virus transmitted when midges (small flies) bite infected deer typically near a watering hole. The disease is often fatal, but some survive the illness.
State deer research biologist Joe Caudell says that the disease tends to flare at this time of year, and that recent weather patterns have led to a more severe outbreak this season. “In a drought, you've got fewer of these watering holes, so deer tend to concentrate around these watering holes. And then the midge is there,” he said. “So, if a deer is infected with EHD, then that midge might bite the one deer that's infected, then it goes to another deer for another blood meal.”
The bonus antlerless quota used to be 3 per hunter, but in 2020 a minor EHD outbreak caused DNR to lower it to 2 to offset short-term population decreases.
The department is asking successful hunters to use the Deer After Hunt Survey to report the condition of their deer’s hooves, including both normal ones as well as hooves which show evidence of sloughing or damage. The goal is better tracking of the progression of the disease.
Caudell isn’t too worried about deer populations in the long term. “There's fewer deer eating the vegetation, which means that can support more deer,” he continued. “And so their population, the speed at which basically they reproduce and get back into the population actually increases and then it slows off again when it gets recovered.”
Reports from locals help state efforts to monitor animal populations. If you notice dead or sick deer in your yard or area, be sure to report it here.
Read more about conservation and vector borne diseases:
Department of Natural Resources prohibits placing bait on its lands
